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Compiled by Bill Heineken

For the Ruidoso News

Posted:
04/08/2014 12:22:14 PM MDT

Shoplifting/ DWI

March 7, 3:11 p.m., Officer J. Bailey was dispatched to the 700 block of Mechem Drive in regards to shoplifting. Upon arrival, Bailey made contact with the manager. The manager advised him that a male subject had entered the liquor department, removed two bottles of scotch from their boxes, placed them in his waistband and then left the store. Video surveillance footage was presented to the officer, allowing him to get a thorough description of the suspect and his distinct clothing. Then at approximately 5 p.m., officers were dispatched to Mechem Drive in reference to a possible DWI. The vehicle was located and observed then pulled over by officers. Upon seeing the subject, Bailey was contacted to see if this was the suspect from the earlier incident. Bailey advised that the descriptors matched the video from the store. The subject was arrested for DWI and officers are seeking an arrest warrant for shoplifting charges.

911 abuse

March 7, 5:43 p.m., Officer J. Bailey was dispatched to the 100 block of Highway 70 in reference to a male subject repeatedly calling 911. This subject was advised that the call was not an emergency and was strictly a civil matter. The dispatcher advised that this had been explained to the subject each time he called, in Spanish and English. On arrival, Bailey located the subject and was advised that the subjects' employer had shorted him on his money for work. Bailey was further advised, by dispatch, that the subject had called, again, while Bailey had been in route to that location. Subject was placed under arrest for abuse of 911.

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Domestic violence

March 29, 2:21 a.m., Officer C. Bryant was dispatched to an establishment in the 100 block of Chase Street in reference to a possible domestic violence situation. On arrival, officers located a subject in the lobby with a split, bruised lip and crying. Officers ascertained the location of the other party and made contact. They found the "suspect" in a "highly intoxicated" state. This subject advised officers that she did not recall a physical altercation. It was later determined that the "victim" started the altercation by slapping the other subject with an open hand. The other subject responded by slapping her in return, on the lip. Subsequently, the supposed victim was arrested for battery against a household member and held in lieu of a $2,000 cash bond.

Unwanted subject

March 27, 3:58 p.m., Sgt. A. Frost was sent to an area in the 100 block of Jerry Shaw Drive in regards to an unwanted subject on the premises. The subject was referred to as an ex-boyfriend and officers were given a description. Upon arrival, the subject had already left the residence and was observed by Frost running down a neighboring street. When Frost approached the subject, he stopped and identified himself to the officer. Frost observed what appeared to be a hypodermic needle sticking out of the subject's pocket. The subject also had a blue bag that was found to contain a residue. This residue was field tested and indicated a positive test for methamphetamine. Suspect was then Mirandized and refused any further conversation with the officer. Subject was placed under arrest and transported to Lincoln County Detention Center in lieu of $6,000 bond.

Fireworks

March 12, Officer S. Beltran was notified that a student setting off a firecracker in tall grass had started a fire adjacent to the Ruidoso High School. Fire units and additional police units responded and were able to contain and extinguish the fire before it got out of control. The juvenile student admitted to having more firecrackers stashed in one of the school outbuildings. These were located in a wall heater unit. The student was suspended from school for a determined amount of time and referred to Juvenile Probation for further action.

Burglary

March 21 11:18 a.m., Officer J. Lund was sent to the 100 block of Spring Drive in reference to a burglary at that location. Lund met with the tenant of the residence and was advised that she had left the house for an hour. When she returned, her door had been kicked in and her television set was taken. Nothing further appeared to be missing. The television was valued at $700. Investigation continues.

Criminal damage to property

April 1, 10:32 p.m., Officer C. Bryant was dispatched to the 700 block of White Mountain Drive for criminal damage. On arrival, Bryant found the reporting party and was advised that someone had put super glue in all the keyholes of the residence, making all the door locks inoperable. The subject was asked if she had any idea who would do something like this. She responded that "she would rather not say." There was no other evidence on scene and damage was estimated at $150 for the replacement of all locking doorknobs.

Gas meter lock broken

April 2, 11:22 a.m., Officer J. Snodgrass was dispatched to the 400 block of Second Street. Upon arriving, Snodgrass was met by an employee of Zia Gas. The employee stated that this was the third lock that had been placed on this particular gas meter and Zia Gas wanted a report for documentation. Snodgrass did locate a piece of the device that was identified as part of the lock. The renter of the property was contacted and denied any knowledge of the broken locks. Zia Gas representative did say that this documentation would be used for possible prosecution.

Vandalism

March 21, 12:20 p.m., Officer M. Valenzuela was dispatched to the 100 block of Spring. Upon his arrival, he met with the reporting parties. They advised him of leaving the residence at approximately 11:15 a.m. and returned at the time of the call to the police department. When they got home they found that an unknown brown, liquid substance had been thrown on a vehicle in their driveway. The substance was unknown and had already dried upon officer Valenzuela's arrival. The victims did not have any knowledge of the party that did this. No further information available at this time.

Criminal damage to property

March 26, 11:20 a.m., Police Chief Chris Rupp was dispatched to the 400 block of Harris Lane in reference to damage to rental property. Upon arrival, Rupp was advised by the complainant that the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office had evicted the prior tenants. When he went to the residence for an inspection of the property, he found holes had been knocked in the walls, as well as what appeared to be bullet holes. There also was fecal matter smeared on the walls. Damage amounts are pending estimates being provided by the complainant.

Old bones

March 26, 3:23 p.m., Police Chief Chris Rupp was advised by a subject that she had been walking in the area of the water tank located above the race track. While looking for rocks, she saw what appeared to be a piece of old pottery. On further investigation, she felt that what had been found were human remains. Rupp and the reporting party went to the area and located the remains. The Office of Medical Investigations was contacted. OMI advised to leave the remains in place and forward photographs to their office. They felt it was probably from an old gravesite, but would investigate and let the Ruidoso Downs Police Department know the results of their investigation.

Shoplifting

March 29, 6:53 p.m., Officer Z. Burtt was sent to Walmart in reference to a shoplifting that had occurred earlier in the day. On arrival, Burtt met with the loss prevention associate. They reviewed the video surveillance footage and identified the suspect. The suspect was interviewed by the officer and then issued a citation for shoplifting.

Bill Heineken is a retired law enforcement officer that spent the majority of his career in Lincoln County, New Mexico. He has worked in numerous facets of law enforcement and may be contacted: bill.heineken@yahoo.com.